By Phyllis Merriam, The Buzz

I had trouble finding more cream cheese to supplement the one 8oz. package I had to make a lemon cheesecake for Christmas dinner at a relative’s, for which I needed five packages. The Good Tern had three. The staff told me there is a national paucity of cream cheese and a major producer is paying $25 to customers who forego making cheesecakes.

So, I launched my search first at Hannaford. The parking lot was so full I decided to try Shaws. To my surprise and delight, the store had several varieties. My five-cent theory: Shaws’ customers don’t make cheesecakes. The day after Christmas, I was notified that two relatives, at the family Christmas dinner we attended, had tested positive for covid. Everyone else there had been triple-jabbed. This just goes to show how covid and its shape- shifting variants are so contagious. A friend describes the omicron variant this way, “How easily this new guy in town gets around and makes himself at home.”

So, I finally got myself and my husband scheduled for local drive-up PCR covid tests after much rigmarole and some false information that involved cancelling appointments. Two testing sites scheduled us before the recommended five to seven days from exposure. Otherwise, there are high risks of false negative test results. Geesh! How little ole me (and reliable experts) knew the exposure times for testing and those medical people didn’t? Alarming.

Two more pot stores are applying for the city’s license, which, if approved, will max out the city council’s limits to six. Will the Planning Board spliff their toke? (I meant split their vote.) Or will they doobie their weed? (I meant to say, double their deed.) Will The Brass Compass be re-named Non Compos Mentis Cannabis? Will Rockland change its name to Potland?

Just read in the PPH that a Maine legislative commission issued its report recommending Maine towns and cities comply with new, proposed statewide housing mandates that will reduce barriers for affordable housing construction and increase multiunit structures. Homeowners would have the right to build in-law apartments, eliminate single-family zoning, remove caps on new housing and neighborhood opposition could not block affordable housing projects, as happened in Cape Elizabeth and is driving divisions here in Rockland. The state would provide consultation to local towns and cities in order to remove local barriers to more development. A bill or bills would need to be introduced and enacted. If enacted, I could see this going to SCOTUS.